How to Safely Keep Multiple Hamsters

How many hamsters should i get

Hamsters are cute, cuddly small pets with a welcoming personality that makes you want to have more. However, before getting too many hamsters, consider if they can be housed in the same cage. Many hamsters get along nicely with people, although they may be possessive with their peers. If you want to maintain more than one in the same cage, you must take particular measures. Similarly, if one of your hamsters surprises you with hamster offspring, you must keep a watchful check on the new family to ensure everyone’s safety and happiness.

1. Compartmentalization of Hamsters in a Cage

1. Understand your kind. Only specific hamsters should be housed together in a cage. Dwarf hamsters, which include Russian, Chinese, and Djungarian hamsters, are exceptionally gregarious creatures that prefer the company of others. Syrian hamsters and other big varieties, on the other hand, like to be alone.

• Dwarf hamsters are available at most pet shops. If you’re not sure what breed your furry companions are, ask the retailer or breeder where you acquired them.

2. Begin early. Hamsters build close ties with the humans and animals in their environment. They dislike outsiders who disrupt their established social groupings. Introduce cage mates while they are young, before they have a chance to form too strong bonds with you and your family. This should ideally happen before they reach the age of two months. They will also interact and connect with one another in this manner.

• Hamsters from the same litter get along best. Ask the pet store or breeder where you get your hamsters about whether or not your intended pair shares the same parents.

3. Examine their sex. Try to maintain just same-sex couples in a cage unless you want a swarm of tiny hamsters. To identify the sex of your hamster, look at its belly. The sex organs and the anus are wider apart in men, but they are quite near together in females. Males have big, noticeable scent glands in the centre of their tummies, as well as testicles between their hind legs.

• You may have a vet or a breeder double-check the sex. However, do not depend on pet shop workers. They often lack training in this area.

4. Limit the number of hamsters in a cage to one pair. Even sociable hamsters struggle in a crowd. Too many hamsters in a cage increases the likelihood of conflict, which may escalate into violence or even death. Limit the number of hamsters in a single cage to no more than two to prevent potentially destructive conflicts.

• Consider splitting up your hamsters into various pairs if you have more than two. Then, purchase a cage for each couple. This increases the likelihood of your hamsters getting along.

5. Fill the cage with two of everything. When they believe they must compete for resources, hamsters may become hostile. To avoid this, acquire a big cage and stock it with duplicates of everything, including food and water bowls, exercise wheels, sleeping spaces, and any other toys or accessories. Each hamster must be aware that they have their own collection of belongings.

• A cage with at least two square feet (0.18 square meters) of area for your hamsters is ideal, while a bigger cage is preferred if you have the space.

6. Keep an eye on them. Introduce your hamsters on a day when you will be available to see them. Begin by placing them on opposing sides of the cage and allowing them to approach each other. If you detect your hamsters fighting, or if one bullies and injures the other, you must separate them immediately and permanently.

• There is no assurance that introducing hamsters will be effective in the long run. Every day, you should check on your hamsters at regular intervals.

2. Separation of Hamsters in Cages

1. Look for clues that one of your hamsters is in distress. If you presently have two hamsters in the same cage but believe they should be separated, first check for panic. Visible injuries are the most evident signal of a problem, but additional signs may include:

• Weight reduction that is rapid.
• One hamster is hiding, while the other is eating.
• Squealing incessantly.
• When handled, a hamster becomes agitated.

2. Separate the several species. Under no circumstances should Syrian and dwarf hamsters be housed in the same cage. If you have multiple hamster species, split them into different cages, otherwise one will grow dominant and threaten the other hamsters.

• Different species may coexist in close quarters, but not in the same cage. Syrian hamsters are often intrigued by dwarf hamsters. They usually don’t mind having their cage right next to another species as long as they don’t feel their area is being threatened.

3. Purchase safe cages. You must extensively examine your habitats, whether you are separating warring hamsters or beginning many hamsters in different cages. Even cages designed expressly for little pets might be difficult for some hamsters to escape from. Check reviews for security features like as locks and closely spaced bars, and get advice from other hamster owners.

• Even if they are separated by their surroundings, more territorial species may attempt to get access to other hamsters’ items.

3. Providing Care for Hamster Parents and Babies

1. Avoid touching the infants. When handling baby hamsters, your fragrance may be left on the babies. If this occurs, their mother may grow perplexed and leave her litter. This might result in malnutrition or the mother being violent toward her children later on. Handle the newborn hamsters only when absolutely required until they are around three weeks old.

2. Keep an eye on the mother. Mother hamsters often have an inclination that makes them naturally willing to care for their young. Some moms, on the other hand, may leave their litter for virtually no reason. If you see a mother disregarding her babies, call a veterinarian right once. You may have to start raising your hands.

• Hand rearing hamsters is a challenging process that should only be attempted with the assistance of a veterinarian. Consult a veterinarian to determine if hand rearing is the best technique. If this is the case, seek their advice on food formulations and baby equipment.

3. Move the infants when they are three to four weeks old. When the baby hamsters are 21 to 28 days old, their mother will start chasing them out. Remove the baby hamsters and place them in their own cages, either separately or in pairs, to keep them secure. To prevent any additional hamster babies, remember to segregate them by sex.

• It is important to note that hamsters reach sexual maturity and may procreate at roughly 6 weeks of age.